German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder is thought to have gained the edge over his conservative rival Edmund Stoiber in a live television debate, two weeks before Germany votes in general elections. The US-style duel, the second and final one to be held before the 22 September vote, was widely seen as more engaging than the first, which saw a polite round of exchanges in which neither man achieved a decisive blow. By contrast, both men were ready to row in this round, and clashed on a couple of issues, including unemployment and the question of a military strike against Iraq. A poll conducted by the Infratest group immediately after the 75-minute debate said more than 50% had found the chancellor the most convincing of the two, compared to 28% for the Bavarian conservative.